What haven't we done? Tips on off the beaten path visit

[bobbiwoz]

With our grandkids we enjoyed riding bikes around fort Wilderness especially during Holiday seasons!

 

[Hopefully]

Can you just go there and get some ice cream to go? I've never been there, but somehow I thought it was a sit down restaurant.

The restaurant is a sit down table service restaurant. There is a take out window with a limited menu.

 

[Capang]

Pony rides for the little ones at Fort Wilderness. Very fun for our daughter!

 

[MinnieB]

This is a great thread!

I would second the pin trading suggestion. My daughter loved it when we went and she was only 4.

Boardwalk area can be fun. We've done the survey bike rental there and really enjoyed it. Kids like to ring the bell that warns pedestrians. There were also mini speed boat rentals that looked fun but we never had a chance to try them out.

We also loved kidcot and the passport at Epcot, so now I'm looking forward to the Animal Kingdom version that was mentioned above!

Disney Springs has expanded a lot, and some of the old favorites like the lego store and Giardelli ice cream can make it more of an event than just a shopping trip.

 

[WishnDisney]

The Yee Haa Bob show at POR. Talk about a fun time!

 

[skuttle]

We rented a pontoon boat for the first time yesterday in the afternoon from the contemporary and we all really enjoyed that. My kids are 13, 6 and 4.

 

[DisHmsklMom]

I see you are planning to stay at CBR, we had a great time riding bikes around the resort, we actually did the loop more than once.

 

[megs1313]

The Yee Haa Bob show at POR. Talk about a fun time!

Is this something I can take the kids to?

 

[snowybelle]

Have you played Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom yet? I just tried the game for the first time last week -- I LOVED it. It's really neat to find all of the portals (and perhaps see little corners of the Magic Kingdom you haven't noticed before.) It's free! I especially loved all the cool playing cards and look forward to collecting them all! It was great to be able to trade with the cast member at the fire station (as well as a couple more experienced guests who generously gave me their doubles, too!) -- fun new way to connect.

I will also second the animal trails at Animal Kingdom. And also -- if character meets haven't traditionally been your "thing" -- you might spend a little time doing that. There are some REALLY fun & funny ones (standouts in my mind are the Stepsisters, Fairy Godmother and Gaston in Magic Kingom -- also Tarzan in Animal Kingdom -- Chip and Dale ALWAYS are a blast -- or maybe try to meet the "Fab 5" all in one park or day?)

 

[WishnDisney]

Is this something I can take the kids to?

Absolutely! There are lots of families there. It's in the lounge at Port Orleans Riverside, but it is big-time family friendly. We ordered appetizers and the kids ordered non-alcoholic drinks and we had a blast.

He has lots of audience participation, including kids and it's fun music that the parents know from growing up.

It's a must do for our next trip.

 

[megs1313]

Absolutely! There are lots of families there. It's in the lounge at Port Orleans Riverside, but it is big-time family friendly. We ordered appetizers and the kids ordered non-alcoholic drinks and we had a blast.

He has lots of audience participation, including kids and it's fun music that the parents know from growing up.

It's a must do for our next trip.

adding it to our itinerary! THANKS!!!

 

[WishnDisney]

adding it to our itinerary! THANKS!!!

I would be glad to hear what you think. We found it through some of Glennbo's trip reports, so check those out!

 

[sharadoc]

Things we love to do:

1. Evening at Fort Wilderness - dinner at Trail's End; campfire, Chip and Dale show and movie at the Meadows; Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes on the beach. If you go at Christmas, take the wagon ride or rent a golf cart and drive around all the campsites to see the camper's Christmas decorations.

2. Winter/Summerland - we love the Winter course, but the summer course is also fun and is cheaper to do them both in a row. It's really fun late at night, in the dark. You can get some great Christmas card photos there.

3. Jammitors at Epcot are awesome, their showtimes are now in the times guides, used to be you would hope to get lucky and run into them.

4. The Riverboat at Magic Kingdom is a great way to relax and kill some time between fastpasses. There is a great narration that gives you some history of the Mississippi river boats and the people who lived along the riverbank. They pretend it's "real."

5. The drawing class at Art of Animation is great. We used to do it at DHS, but they got rid of it when they closed the Animation Studio. They also did it at DisneyQuest, not sure if they still do. It was on the first floor.

6. If you stay at a DVC resort - Boardwalk, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs - go to Community Hall and do some activities. There's board games to borrow, some crafts are free and some are for a fee, plus games and tournaments.

7. Do the pool activities at your resort. We've had a great time playing family bingo, water balloon toss, trivia games. On our last trip, we played shuffleboard at the OKW Old Turtle Pond pool. Lots of fun.

8. Plan out transporation options. If you want to visit Grand Floridian or Polynesian, use the little boat from MK, or take the little boat tour between Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness and Contemporary.

9. Ride the monorail from MK to Epcot and back, or vice versa. Just enjoy the trip.

10. Watch the water fountain at Future World. It dances to music. Most people just walk on by, not realizing that it's a little show every 15 minutes.

 

[sharadoc]

Can you just go there and get some ice cream to go? I've never been there, but somehow I thought it was a sit down restaurant.

They have a takeout window for cones and smaller stuff. You can't get a kitchen sink to go!

 

[disnut8]

Flights of Wonder and Rafiki's Planet Watch at Animal Kingdom. My husband and I (mid 50's) didn't go to these for years thinking the first one was just another bird show and the second one was a lame butt thing but once we went, those two are our favorites now and - even better - no FastPasses needed!

 

[JimmyBean42]

This thread is great. Gave me some good ideas. We always try to do 1 attraction/show we haven't done before and eat somewhere we haven't been before every trip. But definitely check the activities at CBR, they have a lot of fun ones and if you are there during the holidays - a lot of different ones that you wouldn't get to do any other time of the year.

 

[mindeola]

Go to the Camp fire and movies with Chip and Dale. Roast s'mores and have a great time! You can buy them there or bring your own to make. It is one of our favorite activities and my kids still loves it at 20 and 23!

Go to a Value resort and take lots of pics with the over size props. Art of Animation is great!

Some hotels have free tours where they tell you a bit about how it came to be and show you around . AKL and WL are the two I know for sure.

Definitely visit AKL! You feel like you are in another world. There are so many animals and there are rangers to talk with.

 

[GreatLakes]

This may have already been mentioned but carve out 3 or 4 hours and spend some time at AKL. I would make an ADR at Boma, Jiko, or Sanaa and arrive a few hours beforehand. Spend some time in the lobby and also go to all of the savannas. There are more than just the one off of the main lobby at Jambo House.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you are in the Epcot Resorts area rent a surrey bike to bop around. Walk out in the back of the Dolphin, the Cabana Bar has nice sandwiches and is especially pretty at night when the torches are lit. I also love the torches around the Polynesian great ambiance when they're lit.

 

[tlmadden73]

What others said ..

Beaches and Cream and Fort Wilderness .. both neat "exploration" options.